UVU To Offer CERT Training To Students

14 February 2014No Comment

February 14, 2014

For Immediate Release

University Marketing & Communications: Melinda Colton

Utah Valley University students will have an opportunity to take Community Emergency Response Team training beginning March 5, 2014. The course will be offered by the Emergency Services department at UVU and is funded by a UVU Grant for Engaged Learning.

The CERT program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations, said Lindsey Means, who is teaching CERT for the second time. Means will graduate from the UVU Emergency Services Administration Program in May. She is a trained EMT.

Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

“CERT is valuable for university students, because they get the basic skills to respond to emergencies at the university, in their communities and workplace,” Means said. “CERT training will be a great addition to anyone’s résumé. Employers like the fact that you have practical training if an emergency happens at work.”

Classes will take place in room 115 in the UVU Fire Science Building adjacent to the Provo airport Wednesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9, 16 and Saturday, April 12 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. On April 12, participants will be involved in a full-scale disaster simulation.

In addition to Means, instructors for the course include Ryan Petersen, an Orem firefighter; Chris Lindquist, a Santaquin firefighter; Rodger Broome, a disaster psychologist and UVU faculty member; Dennis Goudy, a safety expert with the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy; and Robin Ebmeyer, the UVU emergency manager. Jennifer Brown, logistics chief for the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy, is the course coordinator.

The training will cost $20. All participants receive a CERT backpack and kit valued at $65. While students will be given first priority, faculty, staff and community members are also welcome. Interested individuals should contact Lindsey Means at 801-472-7940 or by email at uvu.cert@gmail.com.